Coin-operated voice recording



May 10, 1949. E. M. SQUIRE COINOPERATED VOICE RECORDING MACHINE OriginalFiled March 9,1942

WITNESS,

Reissued May 10, 1949 COIN-OPERATED VOICE RECORDING MACHINE Edmund M.Squire, Radburn, N. J., assignor: to

The Brush Development Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of OhioGriginal No. 2,379,548, dated'J'uly 3, 1945; Serial No. 433311, March 9,1942. Application for re-- issue June 28; 1946, Serial No; 679,971

'7 Claims.

1 I The object of my invention is to provide a suitable coin-operatedmechanism for the control of a magnetic voice recording machine to the.

end that the machine may be located in a public place and serve as anamusement device, or as a device for rehearsing speech or music.

A further object of my. invention is to provide means for delayingoperatmn of the machine:

until the cathodes of the electronic tubes in the amplifier of themagnetic recording. machine have reached their proper operatingtemperature, thus avoiding the cost of energizing the amplifier whilethe machine is idle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a control permitting theprevious recording to be twice repeated, at the option of the user, sothat a particularly pleasing recording may be repeated.

It is to be understood that magnetic tape recording devices are wellknown, and that the'magnetic recording. device itself is not a part ofmy invention.

I attain these objects by the electrical mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a schematic circuit drawingof the entire machine;

Figure 2 is a detail showing the arrangement of electrical contactswhich are controlled by the magnetic tape.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts'throughout the several figures.

A thin steel tape l passes over three long roll-- ers 2 and a fourthlong driver roller 3. Roller 3 is driven by belt 4 which connects ittoelectric motor E. Tape I is endless and is looped around the four longrollers 2 and 3 many times, crossing over at rollers E and 6. When themachine is in operation the entire length of the tape I will pass underthe magnetic heads I, 8, and. 9 and this will continue repeatedly aslong as the motor 5 continues to drive roller 3.

Contacts l9 and II are disposed on the machine in any convenient mannerand arranged to be controlled by a notch 14 in tape I. This is bestillustrated in Figure 2. A roller l3 isprovided with a circumferentialslotwhich engages and guides oneedge of tape I. Roller 13 is secured bypivot IS in theyoke I! which is secured to contact arm I I by electricalinsulatingmaterial ll. Roller l3'is heldin yielding engagement with tape1 by the; action of compression spring $5.. When notch M in tape'lpasses roller 13, the-roller i3 is forced by spring 25 into notch i4and-contact arm I l is forced into engagement with contact. Ill;

Amplifier 25 may be of any desired construction. It must be adaptedtoamplify currents within the frequency range of the human voice, andpreferably the wider frequency range of musical instruments.

Amplifier Z5 is: provided with input terminals it and Land outputterminals 20 and 2 I. Terminals 23 and 24- are for the alternatingcurrent power supply to-the amplifier. Terminal 2| is groundedtotheamplifier chassis and terminal 22 is internally connected tosupplydirect current from thev rectifier within. theamplifier for use ashereinafter described. To draw current from the internalrectifier, aneXternal-circuit-is established between terminals 22 and 2|.

In changing.from-recording to reproduction,.the input and outputcircuits of amplifier 25 are switched substantially simultaneously byrelays 2t and 21 respectively, whose operating. windings 3t and35-areconnected-in multiple. When energized; the coils of these relaysare supplied with direct current by the internalrectifier of theamplifier in order to avoid electrostatic shielding problemswithrespectto the amplifier input circuit which would otherwise arise'if' thewindings were energized by alternating current. of course, suitablydesigned and shielded alternating current relays-may be used if desired.

A microphonela is. provided for recording on the magnetic tape. A loudspeaker-'30 isprovided for reproducing the recorded'sounds; The outputlevel of loudspeaker 30-issadjustab1eby volume control 29-.

In order. to permit the use of low voltage insulation onas much of thecontrol apparatus-as possible and particularlyto permitthe-use of lowvoltage Wiring. for conductors 36. to 44 inclusion, a transformer. 3'!is provided having a primary winding 32. adapted for energization by thecommercial alternating currentsupply, and

3 a secondary winding 33 which delivers a low voltage, preferably about24 volts, for the operation of the various portions of controlapparatus.

It is to be noted that the two sections of Figure 1 connected by thedotted portions of conductors 35 to 44 inclusive comprise the magnetictape machine in one part and the coin control apparatus in the otherpart. By the use of low voltage in this interconnecting wiring, thesetwo portions may be separated by a convenient distance, which willpermit the more bulky magnetic recording device to be placed in aninconspicuous location while the coin control mechanism is placed forconvenient access by the public. In this case, microphone 28 andloudspeaker 35, together with volume control 25 should be located nearthe coin control apparatus.

A coin chute is disposed to receive coins which will deflect lever 35 inthe course of their passage along chute 45. Lever 45 is normally held inyielding engagement with fixed stop pin 41 by retractile spring 48. Whena coin drops in chute 45, contact lever 46 momentarily engages fixedcontact 49, returning thereafter to its original position, When thecontact 49 is engaged by contact lever 46, a circuit is established fromtransformer secondary winding 33, along conductors 40, D, and 51, relaywinding 52 of relay resistor 54, contact arm 46, contact 45, conductors55, 56, 51 and 4| back to the other side of transformer secondaryWinding 33. This energizes relay 53, causing it to operate. Theresistance of resistor 54 is as low as possible, but high enough so thatno injury would result to either contacts 46-49, or contacts Ill-l i, iftransformer secondary winding 33 were short-circuited through thesecontacts, momentarily.

Operation of relay 52, closes a circuit from transformer secondarywinding 33 along conductors 45, 58, 5|, relay winding 52, contacts58-59, conductor 65, winding 5| of relay 55, and conductors 52, 63, 51and 4| back to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. Thiswould result in the operation of relay 55, except for the fact that coincontacts 46-49 are still closed and a substantial short circuit ismaintained around relay winding 6| via conductor 65 contacts 58-55,conductor 54, resistor 54, coin contacts 46-49, and conductors 55, 33,and 62.

The resistance value of resistor 54 should be sufr ficiently low so thatthere will not be sufficient voltage drop across it under the precedingconditions to cause operation of relay 5B. As soon as coin contact 43disengages contact 49, this shortcircuit path will be opened, and relayEll will operate in series with relay 53, the circuit being establishedfrom secondary winding 33 along conductors 4D, 50, 5|, winding 52,contacts 58-59, conductor 65, winding 5|, and conductors 52, 63, 51 and4| back to the other side of secondary winding 33. Under this condition,it will be noted that both relays 53 and 55 are now operated, and theirrespective armatures attracted.

When the machine is idle, lamp 12 is lighted intermittently in serieswith flasher button 13. This is designed to attract the attention of thepublic. Any other device such as a sign or an audible signal may bereadily substituted for lamp 12, and flasher button 13. The circuit forlamp 12, which indicates the idle condition, is established fromtransformer winding 33, along conductors 4U, 50, and 80, closed relaycontacts 118-19, conductor 11, closed relay contacts 15-14, conductor82, flasher button 13, and conductor 8|, The circuit is completed alongconductors 83, 84,

' of relay winding NH.

E3, 51 and 4| back to the other side of winding 33. Cpening of contacts15-14 upon energization of relay 5t, breaks this circuit andextinguishes the idle condition indicator lamp 12. It is apparent thatthe circuit previously traced will cause standby lamp 835 to beenergized by closure of contacts 15-15, which accompanies the opening ofcontacts 15-14. The purpose of standby lamp is to indicate that themachine is ready to function, as soon as the vacuum tube cathodes ofamplifier 25 are heated and ready for operation.

When relay 53 is operated upon closure of coin contacts 43-59, it closesits contacts 59-10. This has the effect of establishing a circuit fromtransformer secondary winding 33 along conductors 45, 33, winding 68 ofrelay 51, conductor 36, relay contacts 89-15, conductors 1|, 56, 51 and4|, back to the other side of winding 33. Relay 51 is of themechanically latched type, being provided with a contact closing windingor operating windin and a contact opening or tripping winding 853. Animpulse to winding 65 will close the contacts and they will remainclosed until winding 55 is energized. Relays of this type are Wellknown, and it is not important to the operation of the circuit hereindescribed What will occur if both windings should be energizedsimultaneously. It should be noted that winding 68 should be capable ofintermittent energization without overheating, because as will appearlater, this winding will be energized during the first passage of tapepast magnetic heads 1, 8, and ti, and will be deenergized during thesecond such passage. This is not true of winding 85, nor of windings 88and 89 of relay 31, because these latter windings receive only momentaryimpulses.

Energization of winding 58 causes U-shaped contacts 35 to engagestationary contacts 91 and 52 establishing a circuit from power supplyconductor 93, along conductor 94, closed contacts QZ-tii-lli andconductor 35 to power supply terminal 23 of amplifier 25. The otherpower supply terminal 24 of amplifier 25 is permanently connected topower supply conductor 95 by conductors 91 and 56. This causesenergization of amplifier 25.

When the vacuum tube cathodes in amplifier 25 have become heated, alimited amount of direct current will be available at terminals 2| and22 of said amplifier. The internal arrangements within the amplifier 25are such that terminals 2| and 22 may be short circuited Without injuryto any of the apparatus, by provision of suitable current limitingresistors within the amplifier. The current strength is adequate toenergize relays 34 and 35 and to energize the obliterating magnetichead 1. The potential appearing across terminals 2i and 22 when theamplifier has reached its operating condition is transmitted fromterminal 2| along conductors 99, I55, and 43 to winding ||J| of relayHi2, and from terminal 22 along conductor 45 and through resistor I03 tothe other side The operating characteristics of relay 5G2 and the valueof resistance of resistor its are so adjusted that relay I52 will notoperate until the cathodes of the vacuum tubes within amplifier 25 havereached their proper operating temperature, and it is also so adjustedwith respect to relays 26 and 21 so that it operates substantiallysimultaneously therewith.

Upon operation of relay I92, it breaks contacts H35 and I54 and closescontacts I04 and H36. This establishes a circuit from transformersecondary winding 33 along conductors 40 and H11, winding 88 of relay81, conductor 31, closed contacts l III--Ill9"ofrelay I08, conductorII2, closed contacts I94-Ill6 of relay I02, conductor H3, and conductor4! back to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. Thiscircuit energizes relay winding 88, and relay 81 latches in its operatedposition closing its contacts II4-I I6 and II5I I'I.

Closure of contacts Il4'-I I6 establishes a circuit from power conductor93 along conductor 94, through closed contacts 92--9U-9I of relay 61,conductor H8, closed relay contacts II4-I I6, and conductor II9 to motor5. The other terminal of motor 5 is permanently connected to the otherside of the power supply via conductors I29, 91; and 96. This causesmotor 5 to operate, driving roller 3 and carrying endless magneticrecording tape I around and over the other rollers. Thus, it will beseen that tape I does not move until amplifier 25 is ready foroperation, and that thereafter tape I passes at substantially constantspeedrunder the magnetic heads I, 9, and 9.

Upon the operation of relay 8?, contacts I I5-I H were also closed. Thisestablished a circuit from' transformer secondary winding 33 alongconductors to and I2l, closed relay conv tacts II5--II'I, conductors 33and I22, winding I23 of relay I98, conductor I24, and conductor 4! backto the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. This operatedrelay I98, breaking the circuit ofcontacts Ill9l IE3 and closing thecircuit or contacts I09-I I I.

A circuit is now established from transformer secondary winding 33,along conductors I25 to indicating lamp I26 and COIltillLlil'ig alongconductor I28 to electric time indicator I2'l'. The

circuit is completed via conductors I29, Iiil, closed relay contacts I II-II!9, conductor H2, closed relay contacts IDS-484, conductor H3, andconductor M to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. Timeindicator N1 is an electric clock mechanism of the self starting type,having its period for one revolution correspond.- ing approximately tothe time required for tape I to travel once though the recordingmachine. The machine is now in condition to receive and record speech ormusic. Relays 26 and ill are energized connecting input terminals I3 andI9 of amplifier 25 to microphone .28 and the output terminal 2|) torecording magnetic head 9. As tape 'I passes under head 9, thevariations in magnetic strength will be retained and will influencereproducing head 8 at a later time during reproduction. obliteratinghead I is energized with steady direct current and removes from tape Iany remnant magnetic influences remaining from the previous recordingbefore the new recording is impressed upon the tape by recording head 9.Indicating lamp I26 informs the user of the machine that the machine isin condition for recording and time indicator I21 permits the user toadjust his recording interval to terminate at the end of the recordingcycle.

After the tape I has traveled substantially once through the machine,notch It in tape I passes under roller I3 causing a momentary closure ofcontacts II and I9. At the instant of closure, a circuit is establishedfrom transformer secondary winding 33, along conductors 40 and I3 I,tape contacts II-l|l, conductor 42, closed contacts I3-3*-I34 of relay69, conductors !35 and E5, closed contacts 58-59 of relay 53 and itswinding 52, and conductors 5I, 59 back to conductor 49 again, shortcircuiting relay winding 52 and thereby releasing relay 53. Relay 60 isheld operated by the following circuit: starting from transformersecondary winding 33, conductors "40'and I31,- tape contacts II-I0conductor 42'; closed contacts I33-l34 of relay 6!], conductor I35,winding iii, and conductors 52, E3, 51 and'4l to the other side oftransformer secondary winding 33. Because the circuit just tracedincludes tape: contacts II-Ill, it will open when contacts" II---l%'open and release relay 5B. Relays 53"and' 69' are now both released andin condition to'be re-operated by coin contacts 46 and 49. No-provisionisincluded for storing coin impulses but mechanism to perform thisfunction may be readily added if desired.

Upon the release of relay 53, a circuit is established from groundterminal 2i of amplifier 25 along conductors 93, I99, I3, I35, closedrelay contacts l3'I-I38, and conductors I39, I49, and 44 back to thedirect current supply terminal 22 of amplifier 25. This short circuitsthe direct current supply, releasing relays 25 and 22 and deenergizedobliterating heat I. Reproducing head 8 is now connected to amplifierinput terminals IB and I9. Output terminal 29 is connected to volumecontrol 29 and loudspeaker St the other side of the output circuit beingground terminal 2!, which is permanently connected via conductors 99, meand I4l. The tape 1 now imparts to magnetic reproducing head 8 theimpulses which it previously received from recording head 9, and thereproduced sounds issue from loudspeaker 39 after amplification byamplifier 25. By provision of suitable equalizers, a single magnetichead may be used for both recording and reproduction, but separate headshave been indicated for the purpose of simplifying the showing of therecording machine.

Tape I will continue again through the machine and after substantiallyall of the previously recorded sounds have been reproduced, notch I43-in tape I will again pass under roller I3, and contacts Ill and I I willagain momentarily engage each other. This will send an impulse fromtransformer secondary winding along conductors 4E1, I3I, tape contactslEi-i l, conductor 42, closed relay contacts I33-I32 of relay 69, andconductors I42, 39'and M5 to tripping or releasing windings 83 and 85 ofrelays 3 and 51 respectively. The impulse also is carried via conductorI43 to electromagnetic counter IM. This registers one count on counterI44 and trips relays 8! and 6'! into their normal or released condition,deenergizing amplifier 25 and motor 5 and opening the circuit of coilI23 of relay we. The other side of transformer winding 33 is connectedto tripping windings 85 and 89 via conductors 4i and I45, and to counterI44 via conductor .1. This stops the machine and it is then ready to beused again.

A switch I4! is provided to obtain a reproduction of the sounds recordedwithout making a new recording, by eliminating the recording period fromthe cycle. When closed, and when the machine is operating so that relaywinding I23 of relay I98 is energized, the switch It! will shortcircuitdirect current supply terminals 2i and 22 of amplifier 25 via conductors44, M0, closed relay contacts I5I-I5ll of relay I98, conductor I49,switch I41 and conductors I48, I39, 43, I99, and 99.

Whenever terminals 22 and 2i are short-circuited, the recording'machineis'in the reproducing condition because no energy is available forobliterating head 'I or for relays 25 and 21. In addition, relay I92 isdeenergized, closing contacts I04 and I05 and lighting reproducingindicating light I52 through a circuit starting at transformer secondarywinding 33, conductors til, izl, closed contacts lI-I I! of relay 81,conductors so and I53, lamp I52, conductors I 54, closed contactsI05-lll4 of relay I02, and conductors H3 and H to the other side oftransformer secondary Winding 33. Switch I41 does not interfere withstart ing of the machine, because relay its is released except while themachine is running and does not connect switch I41 until relay N32 hasalready performed its starting function.

As has been described, upon dropping a coin, a person may make arecording and hear it played back once. If he so desires, he may closeswitch I41, and by dropping another coin, hear the same recordingrepeated twice. There is a delay after each dropping of a coin, untilthe amplifier is ready for operation. This waiting period is indicatedby the standby pilot lamp, and as soon as the machine is running, eitherthe recording lamp, or the reproducing lamp will be lighted, dependingupon the posi .n of switch i i-i during the first half of the cycle, andthe reproducing lamp will always be lighted during the second half ofthe cycle. Although the specific apparatus above described utilizes anotch in the magnetic tape, it is to be understood that suitable timingmechanism or other automatic means responsive to operation of themachine may be utilized to practice the invention.

I claim:

1. In. a recording and reproducing machine having a record structureforming an endless flexible magnetic recording medium and includ ing acontrol element, manual starting means, and control means includingmeans operable by said control element and responsive to each pas sageof said medium through said machine, whereby the completion of the firstpassage of said medium will condition saidmachine for reproducing andthe completion of the second such passage will automatically stop saidmachine.

2. In a magnetic recording device, comprising and endless flexiblemagnetic recording medium, manual operation initiating means, automaticmeans responsive to said operation initiating means and to successivepassages of said recording medium through said machine, and additionalmanually controlled means, whereby after initiation of operation by saidfirst named manual means recording or reproduction is under control ofsaid second manually controlled means, and after the first passage ofsaid medium through said machine, reproduction will be regardless of thecondition of said second manually controlled means, and after the secondsuch passage the machine will automatically stop.

3. In a recording and reproducing machine, a record structure providingan endless elongated magnetizable and demagnetizable recording mediumand including a control element, means operable to initiate the runningof said recording medium, control means including means operable by saidcontrol element and switching means operative during said running andadapted to condition said machine for recording during the first passagethrough said machine of said recording medium, said control meansoperating to condition said machine for reproducing after said firstpassage of said recording medium and to stop said running at or aboutthe completion of the second passage of said recording medium throughsaid machine.

4. In a recording and reproducing machine having a record structureforming an endless flexible/magnetic recording medium and including acontrol element, starting means, and control means including meansoperable by said control element and responsive to each passage of saidmedium through said machine, whereby the completion of the first passageof said medium will condition said machine for reproducing and thecompletion of the second such passage will stop said machine.

5. In a recording and reproducing machine, a record structure providingan endless elongated magnetizab le and demagnetizable recordingmeincluding a control element, means operable to initiate the running ofsaid recording medium, control means including means operable by saidcontrol element and switching means operative during said running andadapted to condition said machine for recording during the first passagethrough said machine of said recording medium, said control meansoperating to condition said machine for reproducing after said firstpassage of said recording medium, said control means including meansresponsive to the substantial completion or the second passage of saidrecording medium through said machine and disposed to terminate saidrunning of said recording medium.

6. In a recordi for magnetically as recording and reproducing apparatustransducing record signals, such magnetic signals or reproducing thecally recorded signals, a record structure 9; a cyclically operativemagnetizable recording medium and including a control element, recordtransducing means for carrying on record transducing operations whilesaid recording medium moves past said transducing means, guide meansincluding impelling means for guiding and impelling said recordingmedium past said transducin during a predetermined number of passagecycles of a substantially complete passage of the recording medium pastsaid transducing means, and in combination therewith control meansincluding means operable by said control element for causing saidapparatus to perform with said recording medium record transducingoperations during a predetermined number of passage cycles and tothereafter stop the motion of said recording medium, said control meansincluding means for causing said apparatus to perform at least onesignal recording operation during at least a part of one passage cycleof said recording medium.

'7. In a recording and reproducing apparatus for magneticallytransducing record signals, such as recording magnetic signals orreproducing the magnetically recorded signals, a record structureproviding an endlessly operative magnetizable recording medium andincluding a control element, record transducing means for carrying onrecord transducing operations while said recording medium moves pastsaid transducing means, guide means including impelling means forguiding and impelling said recording medium past said transducing meansduring a predetermined number of passage cycles of a substantiallycomplete passage or" the recording medium past said transducing means,and in combination therewith control means including means operable bysaid control element for causing said apparatus to perform with saidrecording medium record transducing operations during a predeterminednumber of passage cycles and to thereafter stop the motion of saidrecording medium, said control means including means for causing saidapparatus to per- 9 form at least one signal recording operation dur-Number ing one passage cycle of said recording medium. 1,166,925 EDMUNDM. SQUIRE. 1,853,960 2,002,352 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,079,959 Thefollowing references are of record in the 2,335,701 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 34,422

873,083 Poulsen et a] 1. Dec. 10, 1907 Name Date Ober Jan. 4, 1916Cunningham Apr. 12, 1932 Owens May 21, 1935 Fear May 11, 1937 HalsteaclSept. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Netherlands Aug. 15, 1934

